For the past two days, virtually every thinking patient of mine has come in and asked

[PCIntern]

me what I think is going to happen with this SS and Medicare business (as though my opinion matters or is well-founded).

WTF are these people playing with here? Is this a plot to destroy the country and the party simultaneously? People I speak with are scared to death about this...instead of using the Rethugs' plans as a weapon, we're embracing them.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. Well, they already played with jobs by approving free trade, so why not this?

They don't care. Their clients are the mega-rich, whose money can move from country to country. They don't care a rat's behind that they're destroying the country.

[eShirl]

2. If they don't think we have enough power to stop them, what's to stop them?

[no_hypocrisy]

3. What if doctors and hospitals aren't reimbursed for Medicare patients?

Will these patients be turned away or have to pay cash up front?

[madrchsod]

9. that won`t happen but some procedures will be cut.

other procedures will not be available unless there`s a supplement.

[MedicalAdmin]

13. Of course they will. It's already happening and it will accelerate.

There is already a dearth of physicians billing Medicare. Our clInic included. Colleagues who do balance the loss of Medicare patients with other income sources, but those sources are drying up too and if Medicare gets cut further then sonwillnreimbursement and more docs will drop. Look for hospitals to close er rooms and urgent care as well. Soon the only places will be Walmart clinics staffed by non physicians....

[Fumesucker]

4. But.. but.. Howard Dean agrees with Obama..

Yes, I'm being ironically sarcastic, or perhaps sarcastically ironic.

[Big Blue Marble]

5. Strategically, it is an amazingly dumb.

The Democrats were poised to retake the House by strongly supporting Medicare and protecting it from
the onslaught of the Ryan plan. Now, they are scaring old people as well as the no-so-olds. Talk about
rebranding yourself. This was the Dems signature issue.

And to think that this is voluntarily being offered up as a sweetener to the rabid Repubs. The Democratic
Party has surly lost its way.

[Doctor_J]

6. Yup. I live in a red area with lots of seniors

and they were mortified at Ryan's proposal - ready to vote Dem to preserve their subsistence Medicare & SS stipends. Obama is personally responsible for undoing that advantage.

[BonnieJW]

8. And yet

I saw Nancy Pelosi come out yesterday and say that Social Security would not be used as a piggy bank for the rich. I'll see if I can find a link.

Here it is

http://www.thestatecolumn.com/articles/pelosi-obama-social-secruity-cuts/

[Big Blue Marble]

10. Talk is quite cheap.

Apparently, these cuts have been in the negotiation mix for quite a while.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/07/whats-in-a-name-dems-support-social-security-benefit-cut----by-calling-it-something-else.php?ref=fpaL">Link

[JoeyT]

11. She has a habit of throwing down the gauntlet and immediately picking it back up.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6462187

Pelosi: A Bill Without a Strong Public Option Will Not Pass the House

[madrchsod]

7. i`m on ss and medicare in 6 months...i`m fucking pissed off.

i know all those people older than me sitting beside me in a doctors office or a clinic are scared to death about what is going on.

obama is so far out of touch with the american people is down right scary.

[Fumesucker]

12. Obama has been inside the beltway bubble for some time now..

And the presidential bubble is yet another bubble inside the beltway bubble..

There is no way he could be really in touch with the average American, let alone those who really are at the bottom of the economic ladder, the are utterly invisible in the beltway bubble.